古き良き時代の昭和レトロ自転車を甦らせています。
昭和20年代～30年代国産の軽快車・実用車・運搬車の黄金時代。
当時は2ヶ月分の給料、「一家・一台・一生」の時代、謹製自転車の研究。 Emaiｌ: showajitensha@hotmail.co.jp They don't make them like they used to. This blog is dedicated to the research, restoration and preservation of bicycles from before during and just after the 1950's, a period when bicycles cost two months' salary; an age when each household had a single "the family" bicycle built to last a lifetime; a time when Japanese craftsmen and women poured their hearts into humbly producing art on wheels.

2013年3月16日 (土)

Brake Shoes

次回、この記事の日本語版を投稿します。

Front brake shoe quiz.

Just by looking at the brake shoes below, what kind of bicycle is this? a) Roadsterb) Utilityc) Carrier

The brake pads on vintage rod brake bicycles differ depending on the type of bicycle. Typically, the above brake shoes are found on carrier bicycles, so if you answered (a) you know your vintage brake shoes.

For utility or roadsters the most common type is shown below.

From the perspective of sitting on the bicycle, the brake shoe below_________________________a. is for the left side onlyb. is for the right side onlyc. can be used on either side

Important to note is that in the old days only the pads themselves were replaced. So, only one end of the metal sleeves has a stopper (top photo) while the other end is open (bottom photo) so that the pad could be slid out and replaced. It is crucial to note that there are left and right side metal sleeves. the example above is (a) left side only. The end with the stopper must face forward. If accidentally attached with the open end facing forward the brake pad will slip off when the brakes are applied.

Brake shoes like the one below typically found oncarrier bicycles are interchangable with the left or right sides.(a) True(b) False

Note that both ends of the metal sleeve are open; however, there is a bolt (stopper) that runs through the center of the pad to keep the pad securely in place. So the answer is (a) True. When placed side by side the difference in size is even more apparent. Carrier cycles were iron mules or workhorses often pulling heavily loaded trailers.

Here is a side view. Pay attention to the end of the metal sleeve for the utility/roadster bicycle brake shoe on the right.

Here we see the opposite ends. On the left you can see the open end of the metal sleeve for the utility/roadster.

I have mentioned repeatedly how on a single bicycle the company trademark or logoappears over one hundred times; is on nearly each and every part often more than once. Here is a unique example from Maruishi, where the company logo (a Kangaroo) is molded into the brake pad. Also note the two screws passing through the pad itself.